The Eagles Nest Market was about half the size of the grocery stores Gage had been used to before moving here. Because he was fascinated by the design and layout, he’d made a point to meet the owner.

Otto Schlitz was a throwback to the days before superstores and automated checkout lanes. By keeping his operation small, he could oversee every department. He was there every day, all day.

Gage held the door for Emma and Josh. “You’re gonna love this place.” Then he shut up because he didn’t want to oversell it.

She glanced around before turning back to him with a smile. “You’re right, I am.”

“Thought so. Let’s get a cart. Josh will get a kick out of that part.”

“He already adores shopping carts, so…oh, my goodness.” She stared at the bright red cart Gage wheeled in her direction. “He gets a steering wheel?”

“And even better, he faces forward so he can actually see what’s going on instead of being blocked by whoever’s pushing the cart.”

“Da-da!” Josh bounced in Emma’s arms when he got a glimpse of the cart. “Da-da-da-da!”

“Such a treat, Josh!” Emma set him into the molded seat and fastened his seat belt.

Gage laughed as the baby grabbed the steering wheel immediately and started turning it. “I’m so glad you needed to go shopping. I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”

“If we lived here, he’d want to go every single day.” She grasped the cart’s handle and surveyed the store. “Then again, I would, too. It’s unique.”

If we lived here. She’d said it so casually, as if it might be on the table. Might be best not to twist his brain around that subject right now.

But he was glad she liked the market. “I figured you’d be intrigued. Otto’s part grocer, part interior decorator.”

“Otto?”

“The owner. In fact, here he comes. Hey, Otto!”

“Gage, you brought your baby to see me! Wunderbar!” The portly, silver-haired man hurried over, all smiles. “I heard you’re a papa, now. What a handsome boy, too. And dis must be—”

“Emma Green, Josh’s mother. Emma, this is Otto Schlitz.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Schlitz.”

He grasped her hand in both of his. “Call me Otto, beautiful lady. Or call me handsome. Dat’s fine, too. Gage, what a lovely woman to be the mama of your baby. And just look at him, little Josh. He has Emma’s hair and your eyes, a perfect blend of you two.”

“Thank you.” Emma’s hand remained enclosed in both of his. “I love the design of your market, Otto.”

“Me, too! I combined Old Country wid New World. Old-fashioned wooden shelves, but I painted dem bright colors, like a child’s playroom. And I wanted dem lower dan what you see in some stores. Who wants to go into a maze where you can’t see out? Look out from my aisles and you can see the whole store!”

“I like that, too, and the produce displayed in woven baskets, and your farm tables with buckets of apples and pears and plums. I love it all.”

“Of course you do, pretty lady. You have good taste. You chose dis man to be your baby’s daddy.”

“Oh!” Her cheeks turned pink. “I—”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t choose him because I know dat’s what ladies do. The men tink dey choose and you let us tink dat. But you, you’re looking for a perfect man. And see? You found him!”

Emma was flustered and Gage was no help. Not a single snappy comeback occurred to him. Otto had romance in his soul and contradicting his rosy view of the relationship would only upset him.

“I’ve kept you here talking long enough.” Otto squeezed Emma’s hand and released it. “You came in to shop. But let me give dis little boy something before you go. What would he like?”

Emma glanced at Gage in alarm. “He doesn’t need any—”

“How about a pretty apple? Josh, do you want one of dese apples? Here, I’ll choose two. You tell me which one, okay?” Picking up a rosy Pink Lady and a deeper red Gala, he held them out to Josh. “Which one?”

“Ga!” Josh reached for the Gala.

“Den dis one it is.” He handed over the apple. “Wid my compliments. Tell dem at checkout I gave the baby an apple so dey don’t charge you for it.”

“Thank you, Otto.” Gage extended his hand. “I appreciate your generosity to my family.” My family. He’d never said the words in this context before, but Otto was so convinced they were a family that confirming it seemed like the thing to do.

“Yes, thank you, Otto,” Emma said. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you.”

“My pleasure, entirely, sweet lady. Please come back again soon.”

“I’d like that.”

“And now we really do have to get our shopping done.” Gage rested his hand on Emma’s shoulder.

“Of course, of course.” Otto waved them off.

Gage left his hand on Emma’s shoulder until they’d moved a distance away. “Sooo, that’s Otto. He’s kind of—”

“Old school. I know. Love his accent. But we need to watch Josh. He’s liable to drop that apple or pitch it somewhere.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him.”

As it turned out, he didn’t have to worry about the apple ending up on the floor or landing in someone else’s cart. Josh kept firm possession of it, turning it this way and that, gnawing on the stem and pressing his mouth to the smooth surface.

As Gage tucked him into his car seat after loading the purchases into Emma’s SUV, Josh insisted on keeping the apple with him.

Emma shook her head. “An apple. Who knew?”

“Otto.”

“Yeah.” She laughed. “So this is where we part ways, right? I’ll meet you at Wild Creek Ranch around six.”

“Do you know how to get there?”

“Not yet, but once I put Wild Creek Ranch, Eagles Nest, Montana, into my phone, I’ll know exactly how to get there.”

“So true.” Seemed like he should kiss her goodbye, especially after listening to Otto rave on. “See you then.” Stop thinking and just do it, idiot! Sliding an arm around her waist, he pulled her toward him and kissed her. He didn’t linger too long, didn’t use any tongue.

But her lips felt welcoming, even for that brief time. Their mouths fit together without a lot of shifting and adjusting. That wasn’t true of everyone he’d kissed. The rest of them fit together nicely, too, but he’d best not dwell on that.

He let go and gazed at her. “Is that okay?”

“Guess so.” But the warmth in her eyes told him it was very okay. That she might even want him to try it again sometime.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t speak for you, but I haven’t felt this awkward around a girl since I was in middle school.”

“Not me. I’ve never felt awkward around girls.”

He grinned. “Smart aleck.”

“See you at six.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He wouldn’t mind kissing her again, but Josh was in the car staring at the upholstery, although at least now he had an apple to hold. “See you at the ranch.”

“We’ll be there.”

He backed away, holding her gaze. Yep, just like middle school. Heaving a sigh, he turned and headed for his truck.

Gage and his dad drove over to Kendra’s together, which put them there early because his dad wanted to help with dinner. Gage was perfectly happy to do that, too. While lasagna baked in the oven, he shucked corn, his dad made the salad and Kendra set the table.

She came back into the kitchen. “Is Emma still nursing? Or can I offer her a glass of wine?”

“She’s not and she might like some wine. She is a former bartender, after all.”

“Okay, great. What about Josh? Is he eating solids?”

“Banana slices. I don’t know about anything else. I’m sure she’ll bring his sippy cup with her. And probably a jar of her homemade baby food.”

“My boys used to love chewing on an ear of corn at that age. That might be fun.” She looked at the kitchen clock. “She should be here any minute but we’re pretty much ready. I just need to get the high chair out of Cody’s room.”

His dad put down the knife and the tomato he’d been about to slice. “I’ll do it.”

“Ah, but you look so sexy making that salad. Carry on, please.”

He grinned at her. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I do love a salad-makin’ man.” She left the kitchen.

“So, Dad.” Gage kept his voice down. “Will you two ever get married?”

“I doubt it, but we might have a fun little commitment ceremony. Nothing official…just a great party and a solemn vow.”

“Interesting idea. And you’d still live on opposite sides of the road after that?”

“Why not? I’m quite attached to my studio. The light is perfect and the space suits me. Kendra likes having her private time, too. It works for us.”

“I heard my name,” she called out from the dining room. “Whatcha talking about?” She walked in the kitchen.

“He asked if we’re ever getting married. I said no.”

“Oh.” She turned to Gage. “Would you like us to?”

“It’s just that if you did, even if it’s only that fun little ceremony Dad was talking about, I could start calling you my stepmom instead of all the other options we talked about yesterday.”

“Was that only yesterday? Seems like more time has gone by.” She gazed at him. “The thing is, I can’t promise when your dad and I will get around to that ceremony.”

“Well, right. Everyone’s busy.”

“How would you feel about calling me your stepmom now instead of waiting until then?”

Warmth filled his chest. “You’d be okay with that?”

“I would be honored.”

“Me, too.” He swallowed. “Me, too.” He walked over and hugged her. “Thanks. I—” The clack of the door knocker kicked his pulse into high gear. “That must be Emma and Josh. I’ll get it.” He hurried out of the kitchen.

When he opened the massive front door, Emma stood there wearing the pretty green and gold top he’d admired earlier today, the one that complemented her green eyes and golden hair. Otto was so right. She was stunning.

Josh let out a squeal of pure joy. “Da-da!”

“Hey, big guy.” He scooped him out of her arms and stood back so she could come in.

“I think he missed you.”

“Yeah?” He pushed the door closed and looked at Josh. “Did you miss me, buddy?”

“Da-da.” He reached up to pat Gage’s cheeks with both hands.

“Smooth, huh? I shaved, just so I could do this.” He leaned down and blew a raspberry against the baby’s soft neck, which started him giggling.

“Welcome to Wild Creek, Emma.” Kendra walked over and gave her a hug. “I’m so glad you could come.”

“So am I. What a beautiful place.”

“I agree.” His dad hugged her, too. “I’m grateful that Kendra lets me hang out here.”

“I never expected an actual log ranch house.”

“It was here when my folks bought the property,” Kendra said. “They told everybody they bought it for the log house.”

“I can see why. It’s amazing.” She took off her backpack. “The sunset was spectacular when I was driving in. The clouds are just right to capture the color. Did you see it?”

“We were all in the kitchen,” Gage said.

“I’m sure it’s still pretty if you want to go out and look.”

“Great idea,” his dad said. “I’m always up for a good sunset.” He opened the front door and held it while Kendra and Emma walked out. Then he grinned at Josh and tickled him gently on the belly. “Missed you, little buddy.”

Josh giggled. “Pa-pa.”

“I think he missed you, too, Dad.” He met his father’s gaze and smiled. “Let’s go soak up some sunset.”

“I’m right behind you.”

“Ohhh, look at that!” Out in the yard, Emma turned in a circle. “I think it’s even better than before.”

“It’s a beauty, all right.” Kendra said. “I wanted you to see the place before it got dark, and it looks even better when it’s got this pinkish-orange glow. Gorgeous.”

And so was Emma. Gage was captivated by the sight of her as she rotated slowly beneath the crimson sky so she wouldn’t miss a thing. She clearly loved nature and being out in it.

But how could he have ever discovered that when he was her lover? They’d spent all their time indoors, mostly in her bed. Sure, that had been crazy good, but so limiting.

“Ba-ba!” Josh pointed at the sky.

Gage glanced up as a pair of goldens wheeled above them on the swirling air currents. “Good eye, buddy! Birds! Eagles!”

Kendra looked at Emma. “Does Josh like birds?”

“He really does. That’s why he has that little plush bluebird.”

“Then he should also like Raptors Rise.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.” Gage turned to Emma. “We should go there, too.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a rescue facility for birds of prey. Zane—you remember who he is, right?”

She nodded. “From this afternoon. Yes.”

“It’s his project and he’s built it into quite an operation. That’s what the fundraiser was for, the one where the Whine and Cheese Club dressed in bird costumes.”

“Oh, wow. When do you think we could go?”

“Maybe tomorrow. It’s right down the road from here.”

“If Zane’s available, I’m sure he’d like to give you a private tour,” Kendra said. “Let me text him when I get in the house. In fact, I need to check on the lasagna. Gage, why don’t you show Emma around the ranch while I finish in the kitchen?”

“I can do that.”

“And I’d like to give my grandson a tour of the house,” Quinn said. “Let him explore the place before dinner.” He glanced at Emma. “Would that be all right?”

“You know, he probably could use the exercise. He’s used to roaming my house and the room at the B&B is a lot smaller.”

“Good deal.” He walked over to Gage and held out his arms. “Come hang out with your grandpapa, Josh. Let’s see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

Josh bounced with eagerness and stretched out his arms. “Pa-pa!”

Gage passed Josh over to his dad. “He’s good at motoring around a coffee table.”

“I figured. We’ll have us some adventures, won’t we, kiddo?”

Josh bounced some more. “Pa-pa-pa-pa!”

“Now say bye-bye to Mommy and Daddy.” He picked up the baby’s arm and helped him wave. “Bye-bye. Bye-bye.”

Josh flapped both arms. “Bye-bye!”

Emma stared at him. “He didn’t just say that.”

“I believe he did.” Gage’s dad got him to do it again. “I thought he knew it already.”

“I’ve been trying to teach him that and he would never say it. But, finally! Thank you, Quinn.”

“My pleasure. See you all later. We have places to go and rooms to explore.” He started toward the house with Josh babbling away.

“Hey, Dad, when will the lasagna be done?”

“You’ve got about thirty minutes.”

“Thanks!” Way longer than he’d expected. This setup was too neatly choreographed. His dad and Kendra had deliberately arranged for him to be alone with Emma.

He turned to her. For the first time since she’d walked into the bakery, they were alone, and it was affecting his breathing and his heartbeat. “And then it was just us. Kind of freaky, huh?”

She took a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Guess we should get started.” He cleared his throat and adopted a formal tone. “The featured attractions for this official Wild Creek Ranch tour include the corral where the riding lessons take place, the pasture where the horses are turned out, the old historic barn where the family’s horses are stabled, and the new barn where there are mostly boarders. What do you want to see first?”

“The old historic barn.”

“Good choice.” He hesitated. “Since this is a private tour, the guide would like to hold your hand.”

She held it out. “I’d like that, too.”

As he wove his fingers through hers and tightened his grip, warmth flowed up his arm and through his body. “Let’s go.”